Bad vibes in certain places in london

[stevens27]

Does anyone else just get a horrid feeling in certain places in london?

The only one that particularly freaks me out is Russel Square tube station. I feel so much sadness and get quite on edge down on the platforms and I don't know why! Does anyone else feel this way about anywhere in London?

Another vote for Croydon, it’s an awful place!

I have found myself in London on the dates of many terrorists attacks, but I don’t associate Aldgate, Russell Square, Borough Market or London Bridge with any bad feelings.

However, I feel an off vibe in Islington, Shoreditch, Hoxton and that area generally. Greenwich can be odd too. I refuse to enter Hackney or Clapham Junction, I simply don’t feel safe.

Belgravia is busy and sterile I find. Way overrated.

did U perhaps see me once at Mile End when the wind blew up my dress and I wasn’t wearing pants?

This is really fascinating. I have areas of London I dislike. I can't stand Northcote Road which feels like it has gates around it to keep the poor out, also Euston, for all the reasons pp say. But I don't have anywhere that I feel really uncomfortable for reasons I can't identify.

Am definitely going to check out the Crossbones memorial ground mentioned upthread

I used to live on Essex Road and never once used that train station.

Agree to a certain extent about Croydon although it’s run down and in need of investment rather than being creepy.

Aww I know what you mean about shadwell. I loved there for years and still have a flat there and it is a Dump 🤣 only place in east London not gentrified. I used to walk up commercial road to Liverpool Street most days and the people at 7am going about asking for money or being creeps was crazy. I miss it 🤣🤣🤣

Euston is soulless but I raise you Kings Cross (not the St Pancras part) Yes, it might have fancy pantsy shops but it's always freezing as it's open at both ends. I also get FOMO that I'm looking at the wrong board for the platform race (possibly goes up earlier on the apps than the big f* off board),

My least favourite station is probably Aldgate. You get off at the previous stations and it's shiny City skyscrapers whereas Aldgate is truly the end of the line in its grimness.

Leafy Palmers Green? Well I never!

The only part of London that has me on edge is Croydon. I can’t say why or how but it just does.

It hasn’t been Surrey since 1965

Mornington Crescent sounds lovely until you get there

@WomenLookingAtMenLookingAtWomen I lived in a street off Green Lanes as a student (over 30 years ago now) and loved the little shops and the sense of community. I haven't been back in a very long time but your description of the shopkeepers standing fast in the face of rioters really made me smile.

I got a bit lost one winter evening coming out of Waterloo station and ended up wandering around trying to get my bearings. My phone had died and I felt really vulnerable.

Loughborough Junction feels very dodgy indeed. It’s near me but I hate going there

Any theories why Croydon has gone down the pan?

I lived near there 25 years ago

Not that ridiculous. It was in the news so much at the time, OP could have remembered it in some part of her brain and completely forgotten it otherwise. I'm not suggesting that she's seeing ghosties.

I used to use Essex Road Station a lot - I’m a bit baffled for the hate, it’s nothing special, but a lot of those on that line are like that, Drayton Park etc.

I forgot about Woolwich, that place is really depressing. I also dislike Old St roundabout, it doesn’t really suit the area, seems like it should be in Slough or somewhere.

Wood Green centre is run down, but Green Lanes is great, so close to the park, amazing food, some good pubs, I’ve always found it very friendly, not as keen on the north bit by Duckett’s Common though.

I agree with Pimlico, some bits are ok, some make me feel very uneasy. I used to live close to there and there are a disproportionate pubs that are part of a concrete block of flats and all feels very ‘local shop for local people’ kind of vibe.

Hasn’t it always had a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges?

Houndsditch in the City always feels odd to me. Suspect it’s because it was poorly developed and is chopped into bits by the A211 and Devonshire Square.

Howling at Angel, Essex Road Station, Finsbury Park etc being scary. It’s so safe, it’s where everyone goes when they decide Clapham is too mainstream for them.

Because the gentrification went wrong. Westfield and Hammerson spent years in court over the right to redevelop the town centre and by the time they were done, shopping centres were on their knees and no one would build a new one. So the existing two centres continue to decay and having a vibrant, attractive town centre is really key to a town’s success.

They had huge plans to make it a bit of a Canary Wharf type place given the amazing transport links. Some of the office buildings have been built but now occupiers are also downsizing so it’s unclear what it will become.

I think it was always down the pan ! I grew up in South Croydon in the 70s and this area was leafy and generally nice. However West and East Croydon were dumps as was the Whitgift Centre.

"A bit rough around the edges" is the understatement of the year. I always feel a bit unsafe in Croydon and keep a hand over my handbag. Hate going to the employment tribunal at West Croydon as it never feels safe to get some air at lunchtime so I don't venture further than the greasy spoon opposite.

lol I was waiting for someone to come on and say it’s all banana bread and espresso butter these days, so I’m actually quite pleased it’s still rough 😂

I’m laughing reading this on my way to Euston tube station 😂 I work just a minute away.
It doesn’t give me bad vibes but it’s certainly pretty rough outside the station, there is always a heavy police presence when I’m on my way home.
I only use the tube there, don’t think I’ve ever been into the overground part of the station but I quite like the square outside in the sun! Not enough to hang around but there’s a little food market, loads of tables and a wall for the smokers!

This is a very niche comment so apologies for boring most of you but since I know the line so well- Essex Road and Drayton Park are completely different! Drayton Park is an above ground station with a shallow wide staircase covered in an Edwardian carved decorative awning, leading down to open platforms. Essex Road (only 2 stops/3 minutes later) is deep below ground with very un-decorated shabby platforms and steep cold entrance stairs. It’s more similar to the Old Street and Moorgate Nat Rail platforms that follow it. I always breathe a sigh of relief when we emerge above ground at Drayton Park on the way home.

20 years ago I used to get the train to Croydon,I really liked shopping there. It had a great Alders ,Marks and Spencers and TkMax. I only go to the East Croydon station now passing through .